"House stealers" run amok so that the American people complain

Recently, according to local media reports, 61-year-old American Patty Peeples recently found that the vacant house in Florida was illegally occupied by two strangers, Peeples was attacked by the other side in the course of confrontation with two people, and asked her to leave. However, local police said the pair claimed they were legal tenants and presented a "lease", "which is not a crime and is to be dealt with in civil court".

In recent years, there have been numerous incidents of "house stealers" occupying other people's idle houses, and similar incidents have been reported across the United States. Squatters, also known as house stealers, refer to "people who settle on property without rights, ownership, or payment of rent," who sneak into unoccupied homes, live there for a while, and then "steal the nest" and become owners. Why does the United States have the rampant phenomenon of "house stealers"?

First of all, this phenomenon has to do with the relatively abundant supply of housing in the United States, which is sparsely populated. With fewer people and more houses, some vacant houses have become the targets of "house thieves". They often choose unoccupied homes, move into them without the consent of the owners, and try to legitimize the homes as their own by living in them continuously for a certain period of time.

Secondly, some laws in the United States, such as adverse possession law, provide legal support for "house stealers". These laws allow unauthorized occupants to acquire property rights under certain conditions. These conditions usually include continuous living, public living, maintaining the house as the owner does, etc. When these conditions are met, the "house stealer" is likely to transfer the property rights to his own name.

Third, economic difficulties and lax law enforcement are also one of the reasons for the widespread phenomenon of "house stealers". In the United States, the economic downturn in recent years has led to personal financial difficulties, and some people may not be able to afford to rent or buy a house, so they choose to illegally occupy vacant houses as a means to solve the accommodation problem. In the process of law enforcement in the United States, the police may sometimes not regard squatting as a criminal act, but as a matter that needs to be dealt with in civil courts, and this law enforcement attitude also makes the "house thieves" think that there are opportunities.

In addition, some homeowners have weak protection of property rights, or cumbersome legal procedures, which also encourages the "stealing house family". In some states, homeowners cannot easily evict squatters even after they have lived there for a certain amount of time and must go through lengthy legal proceedings to evict them. This makes some homeowners feel that their property rights are not protected enough, and they feel helpless and distressed about "stealing houses".

The rampant phenomenon of "house stealers" has caused the local people in the United States to complain, and has also had a serious impact on the American society and economy.

First, it affects social security. Increase crime rate: The act of illegally occupying houses is an illegal act in itself, and if this behavior is not effectively curbed, it may lead to more people to follow suit, thereby increasing social security problems. Intensification of social conflicts: there may be conflicts between the legal owners and illegal occupiers of occupied properties, which, if handled improperly, may lead to more serious social problems.

Second, damage to economic order. Affect the real estate market: the illegal occupation of houses will disturb the normal order of the real estate market, affect the normal use and circulation of houses, and may have a negative impact on the stability of the real estate market. Hinder economic development: Long-term illegal occupation may lead to the waste of real estate resources and reduce the government's tax revenue, which will hinder the healthy development of the economy to a certain extent.

Third, it affects the social structure. Exacerbating social inequality: Squatting may exacerbate inequality in the distribution of wealth in society, as it tends to occur among poorer or marginalized groups. Form a bad example: If the society's tolerance for such behavior increases, it may form a bad social atmosphere, affecting the social sense of justice and fairness.

In general, behind the rampant "house stealers" in the United States reflects the existence of certain defects in the American social system. The US authorities should take effective measures as soon as possible to solve the problem of "house thieves", protect the legitimate rights and interests of house owners, and at the same time maintain social order and promote healthy economic development.